Engine starter



April 16,- 1929. R. P. LANSING 1,709,585

ENGINE STARTER Filed Sept. 2'7, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 30 b 1 27 x z R. P. LANSING ENGINE STARTER April 16, 11929.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ,fi'zuerzzar' 7 X 4 W; W

Filed Sept. 27, 1926 I I g Wzzess April 6, 1929. R. P. LANSING 1,709,585

ENGINE STARTER Filed Sept- 27, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Muff d Amv a Patented A r. 1 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RAYMOND r. LANSING, or MoNrcnArR, NEW JERSEY, AssreNon TO c rrsE magnum oomrnnmor Erm ne; mew YORK, A conrormrron or nwonx;

ENGINE STARTER.

Application filed September 27, 1926. Serial No. 137,865.

My invention relates to engine starting apparatus for the starting of internalcombustion engines, more particularly but not necessarily airplane engines, andithe ob ect thereof is to provide a simple, efiicient and reliable apparatus of this character for either power or manual operation or both combined, the apparatus in its preferred form being such that either the manually operated mechanism or the power mechanism may be readily applied to and detached from such apparatus.

The characteristic feature of the present apparatus consists in a novel and useful form or construction of the driving member proper of the drive or transmission of the apparatus, the same being characterized by the provision of a substantially plain shaft having rotary and longitudinal movements only and provided at its engine engaging end thereof with suitable automatically disengaging clutch members. This shaft is adapted to be moved bodily longitudinally. by a manually operated means and the disengagement of such shaft from the engine member takes place automatically When the engine-starts on its own power.

which an inertia means is combined with the starting apparatus, the section of Fig.' 1 being taken on the irregular line 1-1 of Fig. 4 in order that the manually operated means may be illustrated in the same section; Fig. 2a detailed view or section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 a side elevation of the apparatus of 1 looking at the engine engaging side of the apparatus; Fig. 4 a side elevation of such apparatus partly in section but looking at the opposite side of the apparatus; Fig. 5 a section similar to Fig. l but illustrating a modified form of apparatus which embodies my invention; Fig. 6 a detail of the end of the operating rod; and Figs. 7.

and 8 detail views of a modified form. of engaging members.

case 2 of the engine, a small portion of which is illustrated within a 'circularopening 3. In the casing there rotates a driving barrel 1 and a shell 5 concentrically arranged therewithin and providing a considerable annular space between them to receive a yieldable driving connection which is here in the form of a friction clutch 6. This clutch is composed of two sets of plates or disks which are splined respectively to the interior of the barreland the exterior of the shell. The

with which cooperate corresponding splines 1am the driving member of the drive. This driving member is in the form of a rather 1 plain shaft 14 whose inner. end portion is In the drawings, Figure 1 1s a sectional elevation of one form of my apparatus 1n.

reduced and provided with said splines 13 and whose outer end portion is comparatively enlarged thereby providing an annular shoulder 15, which is normally in contact with the outer edge of the shell 5, as shown in Fig.1.

The driving member or shaft 14 thus has a rotary movement in unison with the shell 5 and also a straight longitudinal movement, by reason of the splined connection between itself and such shell.

The driving member or shaft 14 is provided at its outer end with suitable clutchingmeans which are adapted to drivingly engage the;

engine member such as the end of the crank shaft of the engine and to be automatically disengaged therefrom when the engine starts on its own power. In the present instance and as shown, the shaft14 has inclined clutch jaws 17 while the crank shaft or engine member has complementary clutch jaws 18, said driving member and crank shaft or engine member being obviously located in axial and tandem alignment.

- The driving member or shaft 14 is manually operated by means of a rod 23 which passes centrally through such shaft and is held firmly thereto by means ofa nut 22 screwing. upon the outer end thereof adjacent the clutch aws. This rod alsopasses through the main supporting shaft 24 of the reduction gearing. This, rod 23 being a manually operated rod has operating connections which eventually extend through the casing, a portion of which connections is shown at 25. Any suitable connections may be employed for operating the rod 23 at the proper time at the will of the operator.

Next describing the reduction means, the same consists of gearing which is contained within a second casing 1 which is secured to the main casing 1 as by means of screws 1" and in which such gearing is supported and in which it has its bearings. A main stationary internal gear 29 is secured by screws 30 to the casing 1 and with the same there meshes a series of three planetary pinions 31 which are journaled between two barrel plates which are journaled in the end plate 32, which practically closes the inner end of the barrel except for the central opening through which the rod 23 and the shaft 24 extend. The pinions 31 mesh with a central pinion 33 which, as showm is formed as a part or the hub of a. gear 3 t mounted to rotate freely upon the shaft 24 through the medium of an anti-friction bearing 35. This gear 3 1 in turn meshes with a pinion 36 which is here formed upon the hub of bevel gear 37 which is secured to a cross shaft 38 having bearings 39 and 40 in opposite walls oil-the casing l.

The right-h and end of the shaft 24 extends through one wall of the casino; 1 and is there at provided with a bevel pinion 41. This pinion forms a part of the manually operated means and the same extends into a small casing 42 fastened by screws 43 to the casing 1. In addition to this pinion 41, the manual means consists of a cranking shaft 44 extending extraneous of the casing L2 and thereat provided with suitable means such as pins 45 for engagement with an ordinary'ha-nd crank. This cranking shaft which is journaled in the casing 42 by anti-friction bearings 46 and i7 is provided at its inner end with a bevel pinion 4'5 meshing with thepinion 41.

Describing the inertia means, the same comprises a flywheel and operating connections with the bevel gear 37 and with the prime mover which is here an electric motor, such inertia means being contained within and supported by a casing 19 which is secured to the casing 1 in suitable manner as by means oi screws 50. The flywheel comprises rim.'51 having the predetermined or desired mass or weight, a web 52 and a depending hub 53. This hub has its bearings in the bottom plate of the casing 49 and is drivingly secured as by splining tothe hub of a bevel pinion 54 which meshes with the hovel gear 37. This pinion st the hub 53 are held together in assembled position by the rod 55.

The prime mover which is-here an electric motor 56 is secured to the casing 49 in suitable manner as by screws 57 and the same has an extended armature shaft provided with a screw threaded portion 58. Upon this threaded portion, there is threadeda nut 59 provided with clutch jaws 60 adapted to engage corresponding clutch jaws 61 cooperating with the flywheel and here shown as a part of a ring 62 secured to the web 52 of the flywheel.

In so far as my present invention is concerned, the particular construction of the re duction gearing and the manual means, and also the power means including the automatic driving connection between it and reduction means, is immaterial, but the construction described is very practical and useful for the purpose intended.

Describing a cycle of operation of the apparatus and starting first with the utilization oi the power means or electric motor as the source of energy and with the parts in their normal position, shown in Fig. Lin which the clutch elements 17 and 18 are disengaged, when the motor is energized the nut 59 will be automatically advanced to bring the clutch -jaws 60 and 61 into driving engagement with the result that the flywheel will be rapidly rotated. At the same time, the reduction gearing and associated mechanism will be to tated but comparatively slowly. When the P. M. of the flywheel reaches a predetermined degree, the current may, if desired, be switched 01? from the electric motor and thereupon the rod 23 is manually moved inwardly, that is to the left in Fig. 1 and the driving member or shaft 14 is. moved longitudinally and its clutch jaws 17 brought into driving engagement with the corresponding clutch jaws 18 whereupon the engine will be cranked in view of the fact that the driving member i l is being rotated through the drive or transmission and through the reduction gearing by means of the flywheel, andsuch rotation will continue so long as there is sufficient energy left in the flywheel for that purpose or until the automatic disengagement of the jaws 17 and 18 by reason of the starting of the engins. "When the engine thus starts on its own power, the excess speed of rotation of the engine and its clutch jaw 18 will automatically cause the driving member or shaft and its clutch iaw to be retracted, thereby disengaging the drive from the engine. memher.

Next describing the manual means as the source of energy, the hand crank (not shown) is applied by the operator to the cranking shaft 44 and rotated first slowly until the flywheel gathers speed and thereupon more rapidly until the desired or predetermined ill. oi. the flywheel is reached. In this operation, the torque is transmitted from the cranking shaft 44 through the pinions 48 and 41 to the plate 32, which is splined to the shaft 24 and thence to the drive and also through the reduction gearing to the flywheel. The flywheel having now been rotated to the proper speed, the rod 23 is operated and the engine cranked in the same manner as above explained.

In Fig. 5, I have shown another form of apparatus embodying my invention and somewhat similar to the construction of Fig. 1 but unprovided with any inertia means. In so far as applicable the same reference numerals are used to indicate corresponding parts having the same or substantially the same construction. x 1 According, to the structure of Fig. 5 the driving barrel 4 is provided at its inner end with a plate 63 rot-atably drivingly secured thereto in suitable manner as by splining ,at 64. This plate has a shell extension 65 which is provided with an internal gear to cooperate with'the reduction gearing. This gearingincludes a central bevel gear 66 having a hub mounted to rotate freely upon the central shaft 24 which is drivingly connected with the central hub of the plate 63 in suitable manner as by being pinned thereto as- :shown in Fig. 5. Mounted in this bevel gear 66 and between the parallel plates 67 and 68 there is a plurality of planetary pinions 69 having a series of two rows of gear teeth 70 and 71 the first set meshing with the gear teeth-of the shell 65 and the other set with the internal gear teeth of the stationary ring gear 72 which is secured as by means'of the screws 73 to the cover plate 1 which is in turn secured to the main casing 1 by the screws 74. The members 65 and 72 have a slightly different number of teeth so as to givethe desired resultant in respect to reduction. The planetary pinions 69 are mounted to rotate freely upon the stud 75 through the medium of anti-friction bearings 76 and the plates 67 and'73 forming a part vided at its lower or extended end with a bevel pinion 79which meshes with the bevel gear 66.

Referring to the manually operated means the same are substantially the same as that of Fig. 1 and provision is herein made for reversing the position of the cranking shaft 44 end to end.

In the structure of Fig. 5 the driving member or shaft 14 is made somewhat different in respect to the-actuating means or manually operated rod 23. In the structure being derections by the rod 23. The shaft 14 is also provided with an intermediate nut 81 which forms a stop shoulder 82 on the interior of the shell 5. In this particular construction this shell 5 extends substantially the full extentof the driving member 14 and the adjustable nut 8 is screw threaded thereto instead of being threaded upon the driving member;

Describing a cycle of operation of the structure of Fig. 5, which as explained has no inertia means or flywheel for storing up energy preliminary to the starting operation, 3

thestarting operation may be begun either with the driving member 14 in engagement with the engine member 16 or out of engagement therewith but preferably initially out of engagement until the rotating parts of'the apparatus have acquired some motion. First describing the operation with the utilization of thepower means, when the motor is energized the reduction gearing and the drive proper .will be, rotated throu h the followmg parts: bevel pinion 79, bevel gear 66,

planetary pinion 69, plate 63, driving barrel 9 4, friction clutch 6, shell 5 and driving member orshaft 14 and'thence to the engine member through the clutch jaws 17and 18. I

W'h'en the engine starts on its own power the driving member will be automatically disengaged in the manner already described and such action will be assisted by the coiled" spring 83 on the outer end of the rod 23 which spring becomes compressed when the operator forces the rod to the left (Fig. 5) when bringing the driving member into engagement with the engine member. In this operation the left hand end of the'rod 23 contacts the right hand end of the driving member 14 and moves said member longitudinally to the left into said engagement with the engine member by reason of employment of straight or longitudinal splines between such shaft and the shell 5.

In Figs. 7 and 8 I have shown a modified construction of the clutch jaws 17 and 18 which are characterized by the provision of internal clutch teeth 84 within the engine member 16 and the provision of cooperating externalteeth 85 on the left hand end of the driving member 14. The shape and cooperation of these two sets of teeth 84 and 85' are development illustrations shown at Fig. 8. This particular construction of teeth act as inclined s lines constituting the drivingengagement etween the driving member 14 and coacting automatic means of disengagement when the engine operates under its'own power, reduction gearing operatively connected with the driving element and including a hollow shaft aligned with and in rear of said driving member and a manually operated rod passing through said hollow shaft and operatively engaged with said driving member.

2 An engine starter including a rotatable barrel, a shell therein concentric therewith, a friction clutch interposed between said barrel and shell and operatively connected there with, a driving member located within and splined to the shell by longitudinal splines vfor rotary movement therewith and longitudinal movement thereof into engagement with a member of the engine to be started, means for moving said driving member longitudinally into engagement with the engine memher, and. means at the engagement end of the driving member for causing automatic disengagement thereof from the engine member when the engine operates under its own power,

3. An engine starter including a drive comprising a rotatable barrel, a shell concentric therewith, a friction clutch operatively connecting the barrel and shell, a driving shaft located within. splined to the shell by longitudinal splines for rotary movement therewith and longitudinal movement thereof into engagement with a member of the engine to be started, reduction gearing operatively connected with. the barrel and including a hollow shaft in axial alinement with said. driving shaft, and a manually operated rod passing through said hollow shaft and operatively engaged with said driving member.

4. An engine starter including a drive comprising a rotatable barrel, a shell concentric therewith, a friction clutch operatively connecting the barrel and shell, a driving shaft located within and splined to the shell by longitudinal splines for rotary movement therewith and longitudinal movement thereof into engagement with a member of the engine to be started, reduction gearing operatively connected with the barrel and including a hollow shaft in axial alinement with said driving shaft, aemanually operated rod passing through said hollow shaft and operatively engaged with said driving member, and. man-- ual means and power means operatively connected with the drive, I

5. An engine starter including a rotatable barrel, a shell therein concentric therewith and spaced therefrom, a friction clutch interposed betwcen said barrel and shell and operatively connected therewith, a driving membarrel and including a gear-member bearing on said shaft, power cranking means operatively associated with said reduction gearing, a rod passing through said hollow shaft and operatively engaging said driving member and manually operable from in rear of said shaft, and means at the engagement end of said driving member for causing automatic disengagement thereof from the engine member when the engine operates under its own power.

In testimony whereof, I have subscribed my name.

RAYMOND P. LANSING. 

